28 Black.
It sounds like a cool name.
Oh, and did I mention that it has the most aesthetically pleasing can designs out there, at least in my opinion.
28 Black is an energy drink that strives to make a unique place in the marketplace. It boasts a very well-rounded formula with moderate caffeine with no chemicals or preservatives. It doesn’t even have any Taurine in it.
Well, then what does it have?
How about you come with me so I can explain what goes into the energy drink known as 28 Black.
Let’s get started…
Contents
The origin of 28 Black
28 Black originated from the land of Germany. It was introduced to the world in 2008, 28 Black came into the market with a purpose; that it would be an energy drink not only for bodybuilders and athletes but also for all lifestyles.
And that it wouldn’t taste like gummy bears.
Indeed, 28 Black is all about being different than the other brands. And I think that it succeeds in doing what it stands for.
28 Black Brief Overview
Before we detail everything, let me give you a quick run-through of what is in a can of 28 Black.
28 Black comes in 8.4 ounces cans, and each can has 80 milligrams of caffeine. It has 10-14 grams of sugar and 43-56 calories per 3.3 fl.oz of the drink.
Other notable aspects of this energy drink are that it is free of Taurine and doesn’t have any chemical additives either.
Just like it claims to be, 28 Black is a good fit for almost all lifestyles, as it is gluten-free, Halal, is available in sugar-free versions, and is also free of any animal protein.
Although 28 Black isn’t certified vegan in Canada, it is mostly due to the country’s unique regulations regarding the matter.
28 Black Ingredients
8.4 fl.oz can of 28 Black has the following ingredients in it:
- Water
- Carbon Dioxide
- Lactic Acid
- Citric Acid
- Pantothenic Acid
- Ascorbic Acid
- Niacin
- Vitamin B3
- Vitamin B3
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Acai Extract
- Caffeine
- Acesulfame Potassium
- Guarana Extract
- Inositol
28 Black contains various vitamins and extracts that help boost your energy and give you lasting health benefits as well.
Nutritional Values for 28 Black
The nutritional facts for 28 Black are as under:
| Nutrient/Macronutrient | Amount per 3.3 fl.oz |
| Energy | 209 KJ (50 kcal) |
| Fat | 0g |
| – Saturated fat | 0g |
| Carbohydrates | 12g |
| – Sugars | 10-14g |
| Fibers | 0g |
| Proteins | 0g |
| Salt | 0.01g |
| Sodium | 0.004g |
| Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | 24mg |
| Vitamin B3 / Vitamin PP (Niacin) | 5mg |
| Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxin) | 0.05mg |
| Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) | 0.8µg |
| Pantothenic acid / Pantothenate (Vitamin B5) | 1.8mg |
As a glance at the nutritional table will show, 28 Black is relatively healthy for an energy drink. It even has reasonable amounts of B-Vitamins, essential to your health.
Is Taurine necessary in an energy drink?
Taurine is classified as an amino acid and is a commonly used energy-boosting ingredient in energy drinks. But 28 Black and some other brands don’t use any Taurine, so that must mean that it isn’t as important as it is hyped up to be.
Let me get one thing straight. Taurine has many essential functions in the human body.
These functions include supporting the immune system, helping with the regulation of minerals, and maintaining cell structure; however, Taurine is something that our bodies are capable of producing by themselves. Even a normal diet can help you build the Taurine you need for your body.
So it is not necessary for an energy drink to have Taurine in its ingredients.
Speaking of getting Taurine from your diet, here’s a YouTube video that’ll help guide you:
How much caffeine does 28 Black have?
28 Black is one of those energy drinks that hit the sweet spot in caffeine content.
With a caffeine content of 32mg per 3.3 fl.oz or 80mg per 8.4 fl.oz, 28 Black has neither too much caffeine nor too low.
This much is comparable to the caffeine gained from drinking two espressos. It will give you the energy to shake off the slump and get on with the day; this is a pretty good thing, in my opinion, as you won’t have to fuss over the daily caffeine limit set by the FDA, which is 400 milligrams.
Even if you go through two cans in a single day, you will still be well below the limit and could even go on to drink a cup or two of coffee.
If you do consume too much caffeine, here are some side effects that you could fall prey to:
- Dehydration
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Jitters or anxiety
- Diarrhea
- Increased heart rate
This is why, although it has a safe amount of caffeine in it, you shouldn’t allow yourself to drink more than two cans a day.
Does 28 Black have any sugar in it?
28 Black has a pretty high, 10-14 grams of sugar in every 3.3 fl.oz. This translates to around 25-35 grams in every 8.4-ounce can. It isn’t much of a surprise that it has high sugar content because energy drinks are notorious for being high in sugar.
But still, it is crucial to have a grip on your sugar intake. If you’re drinking a can or two of 28 Black, you must avoid other sugary items.
That is because the limit set by the AHA for sugar’s daily intake is 36 grams for men and 24 grams for women.
If you’re frequently going past that limit, then you may be susceptible to the following adverse effects:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Obesity
- Increased risk of heart diseases
- Tooth decay
- Sugar addiction
- Acne
Energy drink manufacturers have to add so much sugar to their products because it is necessary to mask the bitter taste of caffeine.
The sugar-free versions use artificial sweeteners, which are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar. The sugar-free versions of 28 Black have Sucralose and Steviol Glycoside as sweeteners.
If you aren’t willing to give up on sugary food for the day in exchange for drinking 28 Black, I advise you to drink the sugar-free versions instead.
How many calories are in 28 Black?
28 Black has 107 to 140 calories in every 8.4 ounce can, depending on which variety you’re using.
Having so many calories in a beverage is a red flag, and you should consider this energy drink to be a part of your diet if you’re drinking it daily. This is important because 2000 calories in a day is the limit set by the FDA for the average person.
Having an energy drink with 100+ calories and eating like normal would make it easy for you to exceed the abovementioned limit.
Which, if done over a long time, may cause you to face these health issues:
- Weight gain and, in some cases, obesity
- Loss of control over hunger
- Decline in brain function due to obesity
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Sleepiness or drowsiness
So it is best if you keep track of how many calories you’re putting into your body and adjust your diet accordingly.
An even better decision would be to switch to the sugar-free versions of 28 Black. Not only do they have no sugar, but they are free of calories too.
What is the Acai Berry extract?
The Acai (ah-sigh-EE) berry is a Native American fruit that is similar to grapes. These berries are harvested from Acai palm trees.
Like many other berries, Acai possesses some antioxidant properties and some fiber.
The Acai is even called a super-food by many people, and they claim that it has the following health applications:
- It may help control high cholesterol
- Helps with arthritis
- Is an antioxidant
- Improves skin appearance
- Helps with weight loss
But the research on this berry is minimal, and nothing can be said for sure about the possible health effects, or energy drinks infused with this berry, may have.
Does 28 Black have alcohol in it?
I’ve seen some people online wondering whether 28 Black has any alcohol in it or not.
You can rest assured because it doesn’t have any alcohol.
One thing that concerns me is that some people are as reckless as mixing alcohol and energy drinks; this is a bad idea because the two things have opposite effects. They are trying to offset the intoxication from the alcohol by the cognitive boost from energy drinks.
This results in a state called ‘Wide awake drunk’ in which a person can remain alert even after getting wholly drunk, which is extremely dangerous.
One reason for it is that if someone doesn’t feel intoxicated, they are highly likely to drink even more alcohol than usual, which is detrimental to their health.
Another reason why I think this dangerous is because people believe that they can drive while wide-awake drunk, which can result in fatal accidents.
So please be thoughtful and keep the two things away from one another.
What does 28 Black taste like?
“Surely 28 black isn’t one of those energy drinks that taste like gummy bears, right?”
Yeah, it doesn’t taste like gummy bears.
28 Black has a fruity taste which is a nice combination of sweet and sour notes. So it shines in the taste department. Even though it has an aftertaste, it isn’t necessarily bad, and the sweet and sour fruity will more often than not cover it up.
One thing to note is that both the sugar-free and original versions of 28 Black taste virtually the same, which is something I found to be quite pleasing
28 Black’s Flavors And Variations
The 28 Black energy drink has a total of eight different variations, including the zero-sugar and no-calorie versions.
These are listed below:
- 28 Black Açaí
- 28 Black Açaí Zero
- 28 Black Absolute Zero Guava-Passion Fruit
- 28 Black Classic
- 28 Black Classic Zero
- 28 Black Pink Grapefruit-Mint
- 28 Black Sour Cherry
- 28 Black Sour Mango-Kiwi
28 Black Price And Availability
According to their website, 28 Black should be available in most supermarkets and stores.
But if you want to buy it online from the comfort of your home, then you can order directly from 28 Black’s website, or you can find it on Amazon.
A 24 pack of 28 Black Energy costs around 38 euros or 1.59 euros for each can. On Amazon, you can get it for $33 for a pack of 24, which means one can be around $1.37.
Alternatives to 28 Black
Here are some alternatives to 28 Black if it doesn’t work for you:
Final Thoughts
All in all, 28 Black is a pretty well-rounded energy drink that truly lives up to its claim of being the right one for many different people.
With moderate caffeine and B-Vitamins it is a good source of energy that lasts long and also covers your basic vitamin needs.
The only real issues are the sugar and calories but then it has 4 different sugar-free and calorie-less versions available with the same great taste.
28 Black is a brand that I won’t have trouble recommending to anyone.